Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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378. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the Irish Harness Racing Association; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38273/15]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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379. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the Government is not supporting the development of the harness racing industry, as this industry can continue to grow in the domestic economy by providing new jobs and through long-term business development growth and significant export revenues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38276/15]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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380. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason other countries in the European Union and elsewhere are providing financial assistance and assistance in kind to harness racing, whereas the Government is not providing assistance to the Irish Harness Racing Association; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38277/15]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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381. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason every horse sport, except Irish harness racing, received substantial funding in budget 2016, given the extent to which Irish harness racing can generate more in export moneys than any other horse sport, including thoroughbreds, and has the capacity to provide significant domestic job growth opportunities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38278/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 378 to 381, inclusive, together.

Funding from my Department for the horse sector in Ireland has been provided, through the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund, to Horse Racing Ireland for thoroughbreds and through an annual grant to Horse Sport Ireland for sport horses. My Department has been very supportive of the sector and that has been reflected in increased financial support for 2016 as announced in the context of the recent Budget. My Department is providing an additional €6m in 2016 to the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund, bringing it to €74m, of which 80 per cent is dedicated to thoroughbred horses and an extra €50,000 to Horse Sport Ireland totalling €1.87m for sport horses.

The Irish bloodstock industry is of enormous economic benefit to this country. It has been estimated, that the industry provides in excess of 14,000 jobs, approximately €1.1bn in economic output and is responsible for exports worth in excess of €200m. Regarding the Irish Sport Horse industry its contribution to the Irish economy is in excess of €700 million per annum and it accounts for some 12,500 jobs.

Harness racing is a significant equestrian sport in a number of countries, notably France, Sweden, Italy and North America. However, harness racing has been a minority-interest sport in this country.

I believe the Irish Harness Racing Association is actively seeking to expand the sport in Ireland and believes it has significant potential for development to bring it more into line with the profile it enjoys elsewhere.

Following on from the establishment of a limited company in May 2015, the Irish Harness Racing Association has applied for Ireland to become a full member of the European Union Trotteurs (UET), which is the umbrella organisation for national harness racing organisations in 22 European countries. This would open the way for Irish competitors to compete in Europe.

Also in line with its ambition to elevate the sport to a more professional and sophisticated plane in this country, the Irish Harness Racing Association has been considering the feasibility of running fixtures at venues of a higher quality than those to which it has heretofore been confined. In this regard the Irish Harness Racing Association requested permission from Horse Racing Ireland to stage a number of harness racing fixtures at Dundalk racecourse. My Department wrote to Horse Racing Ireland requesting them to facilitate the specific request. The Board of HRI decided to allow a trial event under strict supervision. My Department awaits the report from the Turf Club in this regard.